Brinks Guard, Suspect Shot at Mall

A Brinks security guard was shot in the leg and a lone suspected gunman shot in the side and face in front of frightened holiday shoppers at Arbor Place Mall Monday, a law enforcement official confirmed for 11Alive News.

The guard's injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, said Bill Ball, general manager of the Arbor Place Mall. Police said the suspect's wounds were more severe.

The events unfolded while a Brinks guard was entering the mall to service some of the ATM machines, Ball said.

Authorities put the mall in lockdown, not allowing shoppers to enter or exit. Eventually, just after 1 p.m., shoppers were allowed to leave as police officers directed traffic at every entrance to the mall.

By mid-afternoon, yellow crime scene tape still surrounded the Brinks truck, which remained outside the mall entrance, but traffic was being allowed in and out of mall freely.

Douglasville Police Chief Joe Whisenant said the shooting happened a few minutes after noon.

He said the security guard was inside on the second floor when the would-be robber approached and put a gun to the guard's head. They scuffled and both men fired, with the guard hit in the leg and the suspect in the mouth, Whisenant said.

Both men were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

Neither man's identity was immediately released. Whisenant said the suspect is 41 years old and from DeKalb County.

He also said that money, the apparent target of the robbery, was recovered.

Police said they found five shell casings at the scene. One shot went through a window in the food court, police said.

11Alive's Kevin Rowson talked to one man whose daughter called him while hiding from the gunman inside a closet. Jeff Reese said his daughter, who is 19, was inside the mall and witnessed the shooting. The gunman then appeared to turn to her and give chase, but she got away.

Sarah Bennett said she was doing some Christmas shopping with her 2-year-old daughter Addie. Bennett said she was on the first floor below the food court when she heard multiple shots coming from up above. Bennett said what happened next was a mad scramble for the exits.